Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-7cvxr Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-23T10:17:29.208Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

15 Years of Experience with Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Critical Analysis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Mohamed A. Seraj*
Affiliation:
Professor and Chairman of Anaesthesiology, Chairman of National CPR Committee, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Paul J. Harvey
Affiliation:
CPR Instructor National Training Center, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
*
Professor and Chairman of Anaesthesiology Chairman of National CPR Committee Department of Anaesthesiology College of Medicine and King Khalid University Hospital PO Box 2925 Riyadh 11461 Saudi Arabia

Abstract

The objective of this review is to establish a framework about the educational activities of the Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) National Committee of the Saudi Heart Association (SHA) and determine if it has had any effect on the survival rate in daily hospital work. Further, the review puts forward recommendations regarding the key to success for future implementations and improvement in the outcome of heart attacks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA).

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) was introduced into the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the 1980s. The birth of CPR in the Kingdom was conducted by the American Heart Association (AHA) provision of the first instructor course in Basic Cardiac Life Support (BCLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) in the spring of 1984. This educational activity was initiated by the Postgraduate Center of the College of Medicine and currently is a function of the Saudi Heart Association (SHA). The National Heart Center (NHC) continually expands its activities. The number of courses organized, conducted, and reported herein totaled 459 for providers and instructors in BCLS and advanced cardiac life support. This resulted in certification of 916 and 204 instructors in basic and advanced CPR respectively. There were 80 centers established in the Kingdom over the span of 15 years. They all provide BCLS courses; only 13 provide advanced cardiac life support courses. The SHA issued a total of 84,659 certificates.

Type
Original Research
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Statement by Ad Hoc Committee on CPR of the Division of Medical Sciences, National Academy of Sciences – National Research Council (NAS – NRC); Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). JAMA 1966;198:372379.Google Scholar
2. American Heart Association: Standards for cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and emergency cardiac care (ECC). JAMA 1974; 227 (Suppl): 833868.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Seraj, MA: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) in Saudi Arabia: Past, present and future. Bulletin of the Saudi Heart Association 1988;1:1719.Google Scholar
4. Emergency Cardiac Care Committee and Subcommittees, American Hearth Association: Guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and emergency cardiac cut. JAMA 1992;268:21712303.Google Scholar